Last semester in my Writing for the Workplace class, we practiced writing cover letters and personal statements. I decided to write a mock cover letter for a grad school application because I plan on attending grad school once I graduate from Rowan. During peer review, my classmates told me that the cover letter was fine. Later, I received a good grade on it, but I personally was not satisfied with it and did not think it was ready to be sent out to an actual grad school. I have been wanting to work on it more, and, because of this, I was happy to read the different articles on cover letters. The first piece, Why ‘optional’ cover letters aren’t really optional, by Laruen Nevidomsky gave some simple but important advice. As it explains, just taking the time to write and include a cover letter will show the faculty that you are willing to do extra work and put in extra effort. I also agree that the cover letter is a good way to expand on things that the resume cannot explain on its own. For example, I did not get my first job until my sophomore year of college, which may look fishy to some readers. But I can use my cover letter to explain that I did not have time to work in high school because I had dance classes five days a week. The two cover letters in the article Cover Letter Examples also gave me a good idea of what to include in a cover letter and how a non-generic, interesting letter should be like. However, I did not like the first example. I thought that the writer was trying too hard. I also felt that she was rambling on- I kind of got lost along the way because I was distracted by the random facts thrown here and there, and the continual babble. This is something I am going to avoid when I write my cover letter. I personally thought that the second letter was much than the first. The applicant was clear and concise. They let the reader know that they were more than capable of doing the job and that they had done their homework about the employer. Their experience and expertise were shown through their writing without them being superfluous like the other writer. When constructing my own cover letter, I will use the second letter as a model for an excellent cover letter.
As for the personal statements, I loved the example that was given in My MFA Personal Statement (a.k.a. Statement of Purpose) by Jim Cooney. His letter was funny and witty without being pretentious. I especially liked how he introduced himself by using a story from his childhood. Another notable trait in his letter was his ability to incorporate his strengths. He was able to show his willingness to learn, his unique experiences, and his reasons for wanting to enter the program. After reading his letter, I am considering maybe using an experience from my childhood in my personal statement because I have many distinctive childhood stories that involve writing. I noticed that How to Write a Great Statement of Purpose by Vince Gotera also incorporated an example that used a childhood experience. This proved to me how effective a childhood anecdote can be and made me definitely want to include one of my own. The article was also helpful by giving good tips and advice about how to go about writing a personal statement. The checklist provided at the end of the article will be particularly helpful for when I start drafting my statement. I was unsure how to fix my cover letter and personal statement, but after reading these articles, I am more confident in what to correct and include.
As for the personal statements, I loved the example that was given in My MFA Personal Statement (a.k.a. Statement of Purpose) by Jim Cooney. His letter was funny and witty without being pretentious. I especially liked how he introduced himself by using a story from his childhood. Another notable trait in his letter was his ability to incorporate his strengths. He was able to show his willingness to learn, his unique experiences, and his reasons for wanting to enter the program. After reading his letter, I am considering maybe using an experience from my childhood in my personal statement because I have many distinctive childhood stories that involve writing. I noticed that How to Write a Great Statement of Purpose by Vince Gotera also incorporated an example that used a childhood experience. This proved to me how effective a childhood anecdote can be and made me definitely want to include one of my own. The article was also helpful by giving good tips and advice about how to go about writing a personal statement. The checklist provided at the end of the article will be particularly helpful for when I start drafting my statement. I was unsure how to fix my cover letter and personal statement, but after reading these articles, I am more confident in what to correct and include.